Kīlauea's eruption building perched lava channel

Aerial view of the current eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, looking toward the southwest. The shiny, gray lava surfaces are recent pahoehoe flows resulting from overflows of the open lava channel. The channel is about 1 km long (0.6 miles) and as wide as 60 m (200 feet). Lava can be seen spreading from the lower end of the lava channel and feeding a flow that is moving east (left) at the base of Kupaianaha (left middle; note crater atop the shield). Active `a`a flows can also be seen in lower left. Whitish fume rises from Pu`u `O`o, at top right. The distance from Pu`u `O`o to Kupaianaha is about 3 km (2 miles). USGS photograph, Tim Orr.